Truffle Oil, one of the best ingredients in any chef’s kitchen because of it’s unique aroma and flavor.Apart from that it has numerous health benefits.
According to Gordon Ramsay(British Chef and Restaurateur), Natural Truffle Oil is “A Chef’s Dream”. Let’s know more about Truffle Oil and reason behind it’s popularity.
Let’s know more about Truffle Oil and reason behind it’s popularity.
Table of Contents
What Is Truffle Oil?
Truffle Oil is an oil which gives flavor and aroma of Truffle to a dish. Truffle is a fungus like a mushroom that grows underground near the roots of the tree and is very hard to found.
To find and extract Truffles from the roots of the tree, Female Pig is used before and now Dogs are trained as Truffle hunter to find the Truffles(Lagotto Romagnolo is the only dog breed recognized for sniffing truffles). Truffle looks like a Potato and tastes like a mushroom and it’s aroma is unforgotten like musk.
Most Truffle Oils are not made from actual Truffles as they are hard to find and very costly in price that’s why synthetic Truffle Oil is created from specific Easter (Chemical Compound) which odors more like a Truffle.
Truffle Oil is used to make Truffle Fries which is more like French Fries tossed in Truffle Oil and there are so many dishes which are prepared with the help of Truffle Oil. Truffle Oil is available in all seasons and is so popular among Chefs to prepare exotic dishes which mention Truffles in them.
Types Of Truffle
Truffles have different types like White Truffle, Black Truffle, Garlic Truffle and Burgundy Truffle, let’s know about them one by one:
1. Black Truffles
Black Truffles are pitch black in color and found in Perigord region of France that’s why they are also known as Perigord Truffles.
In France, they are grown near Oak and Hazelnut Trees. Black Truffles are more or less round and vary in size from pea size to tennis ball.
2. White Truffles
White Truffles looks like a white marble and found in many parts of Italy. They are considered to be most luxurious truffle of all. Do you know in 2009, the price of white Truffles was more than $14,000 per kg.
Do you know? In 1999, Giancarlo Zigante and his dog Diana found one of the largest truffles(1.31 Kg weight) in the world and has entered the Guinness Book of Records.
3. Burgundy Truffle
Burgundy Truffle is a type of Black Truffle. It has coffee colored interior and smells like cornmeal. It is mostly used with Fresh Vegetables.
4. Garlic Truffle
It is a type of black truffle and scents like Garlic and have smooth surface skin with dotted warts.
Oil made from Black Truffle is called Black Truffle Oil and similarly oil made from White Truffle is called White Truffle Oil.
Black Truffles have a robust flavor so use it over meat and sauces whereas White Truffles have slightly garlicky, and pepper flavor so use it over pasta, potatoes.
Now you came to know about truffle and different types of Truffle from which Truffle oil is made, let’s take a look at nutritional value of Truffle Oil.
Nutritional Value Of Truffle Oil
Synthetic Truffle oil has no nutritional value as it is not made from Truffles but original Truffle oil has some nutritional value as they inhibit the nutritional values of Truffles which are given below:
- Truffles contains about 60% carbohydrates
- It contains about 20% Proteins
- It has Fat in between 3-7%
- Truffles contain some dietary Fibers.
- Copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, sodium, potassium, calcium and a small amount of aluminum is also present in it.
- Truffles are low in Vitamins except Vitamin C.
As you came to know about nutritional value of Truffles and Truffle Oil, let’s know about it’s health benefits which are given below.
Health Benefits Of Truffle Oil
Synthetic Truffle oil has very little health benefits as it is made up of olive oil as a base oil and synthetic Easter but Real Truffle oil has more health benefits as it is made up of olive oil and original Truffles. Truffles have some health benefits which are given below:
- Truffles are strong antioxidants
- They are antibacterials
- Truffles are anti-tumors
Now you came to know about different health benefits of Truffle oil, let’s know about it’s uses in day to day life.
Uses Of Truffle Oil
Truffle Oil is used as finishing oil not as cooking oil means truffle oil is drizzled over a dish at the end of preparation usually as small amount so don’t prepare food with Truffle Oil. Here are some uses of truffle oil:
1. Drizzle Over Potatoes
Drizzle a small amount of Truffle oil over potatoes to give it a unique flavor and aroma.
2. Sprinkle Over Pasta
Drizzle over pasta to give it a unique flavor and aroma.
3. Pizza With Truffle Oil
Truffle oil makes a wonderful addition to pizza crust.
4.Truffle Oil And Eggs
Eggs and Truffles are a great pair. One can drizzle Truffle oil over egg omelets to get a unique taste of great pair.
5.Truffled Popcorn
One can Try Popcorn with truffle oil. Drizzle small amount of Truffle oil over popcorns to enjoy unique popcorn flavor.
6.Truffled Fries
One can enjoy French Fries with truffle oil. Drizzle a small amount of Truffle oil over French Fries to enjoy Truffled Fries.
As you came to know about how healthy is Truffle oil? It’s nutritional value and different uses in daily life, now let’s learn how to make Truffle Oil at home.
Also, Avocado oil can be used in the kitchen and it also has many health benefits.
How To Make Truffle Oil At Home?
As you came to know most Truffle oil available in the market is prepared from synthetic easter compound and olive oil or grapeseed oil and is less nutritious as compared to real truffle oil, today I’ll show you how to make real truffle oil at home, follow me:-
Serves
1Pint
Ingredients
1 teaspoon fresh Truffle shavings, 1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 Sterilized air tight Pint Jar
Steps To Make Truffle Oil At Home
- Cut Truffles into small pieces.
- Take a Cup of Olive Oil in a Pan
- Put cutter Truffles into oil and mix well.
- Transfer the mixture into Jar/Bottle and keep it in a cool and dark place for several hours.
- Shake the jar daily for one week
- The oil will be good to use after one week
Note:The longer you keep in cool and dark place, the stronger the flavor
Most People have this question in mind about the aroma of Truffle Oil that How long aroma of Truffle Lasts? And here is the answer.
How Long Aroma Of Truffle Oil Lasts?
Truffle oil retains its character for at least several months, so it is advisable to keep it in cool place due to the reason that gasses go into the semi-liquid state when cold so try to keep it in the refrigerator when not being used.
Lastly, remember Truffle Oil is finishing oil not cooking oil so to enjoy the aroma of Truffles, drizzle Truffle oil over your dishes.
